National Truth and Reconciliation Day (Canada)
Author: Greg
September 30, 2024
Listening, Learning, and Leading with Respect
Canada’s National Truth and Reconciliation Day isn’t just another date on the calendar—it’s a reminder. A gut check. A call to pause the hustle and actually think about how we show up.
If you grew up in Canada and didn’t know much about this day, you’re not alone. I didn’t either. It wasn’t taught, and it certainly wasn’t emphasized. But now, as a husband, father, and business leader—I see it differently. I see it as an opportunity. Not just to honor Indigenous communities, but to take a long look in the mirror and ask, “Am I really listening? Am I learning? Am I leading the way I say I am?”
Truth and Reconciliation: More Than Remembrance
This day was created to acknowledge the lasting damage caused by Canada’s residential school system—a system that tore families apart and left deep scars in Indigenous communities.
But remembrance isn’t the goal. Reconciliation is.
And reconciliation means action. It means listening to hard truths, sitting with discomfort, and choosing to grow from it. As Canadians, we owe that. But as professionals and leaders? We should be doing it anyway.
This isn’t just about history—it’s about how we treat people today. And in my world of sales, leadership, and relationship-building, the lesson is crystal clear: We grow when we listen. We build when we learn. We lead when we respect.
Listening: The Most Underrated Sales Skill on Earth
Want to know what separates good reps from great ones? Listening.
Not waiting for your turn to talk. Not plowing through your pitch. But actually hearing the person in front of you.
It’s the same lesson reconciliation teaches us. People want to feel seen. Heard. Understood.
In business, that’s how trust is built. That’s how deals close. That’s how teams stay loyal. You don’t need 50 new tactics—you need one skill: shut up and listen.
Learning: Get Over Your Ego and Get Better
Real leaders are students first.
Whether you’re trying to understand the generational trauma caused by colonial systems, or just trying to improve your onboarding process—learning starts when ego ends.
Truth and Reconciliation Day reminds us that learning isn’t optional. It’s the price of admission if you want to do right by people.
In business, that means learning about your clients. Their pain points. Their reality. In life, it means educating yourself about the world beyond your comfort zone. If you’re not doing that, you’re not leading—you’re coasting.
Leading with Respect: You’re Not for Everyone—And That’s Okay
Some people won’t want what you’re offering. Whether it’s a client, a recruit, or a partnership, not every fit is meant to be.
Respect the “no.”
Respect their truth.
Move forward with your dignity intact.
Because the way you handle rejection says more about you than any sales pitch ever could.
Respect is foundational—not just in reconciliation, but in reputation. You don’t need to be pushy, manipulative, or fake-hype your way into business. Be real. Be respectful. The right people will see it.
Business With Humanity
This day isn’t about hashtags or symbolism. It’s about accountability. About doing the work.
And that same principle applies to your brand, your team, and your leadership style.
Listen more than you talk.
Learn more than you assume.
Lead with more respect than the world expects.
That’s not just reconciliation. That’s how you build something that lasts.
The Boom Challenge
Here’s your move today—keep it simple, but intentional:
✅ Read one thing about the legacy of residential schools.
✅ Let someone speak without interrupting once.
✅ Run your next business call through the filter of respect before results.
Reconciliation doesn’t live in government policy. It lives in people. In conversations. In how we treat each other daily.
Whether you’re in Canada or not—this message is universal:
We rise when we listen.
We lead when we learn.
We grow when we respect.
Let’s get to work.
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